dietz



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. E. DIETZ.

SNOW PLOW.

(No Model.)

Patented June 21, 1887.

Wtimsses:

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. A. E. DIETZ.

SNOW PLOW.

Patented June 21, 1887.

Fig. 3.

Witnesses f I I N. PETERS, Fhom-Lvlhn nphur, Wzshmglon, D. (L

. ing-board adjusted in the center.

UNITED STATES PATENT rEicE.

ANDREW E. DIETZ, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

SNOW-PLOW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,055, dated June 21, 1887.

Application filed January 10, 1887.

Serial No. 223,971. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW E. DIE'lZ, a resident of Oakland, county of Alameda, Slate of California, have invented an Improved Snow-Plow; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the acconr panying drawings.

Hy invention relates to an improvement in snow-plows, whereby the snow may be shunted off on both sides of the track or on citherside thereof.

The following description fully explains the nature of my said invention and the manner in which I proceed 'to construct apply, and operate the same, the accompanying drawings being referred to by figures and letters.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device, showing the form of the plow and the shunt- Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the shunting-board, showing the mannor of attaching it to the center post. Fig. 5 is a plan of the device, looking down, show ing the shunting-board adjusted on one side. Fig. 6 is a plan of the same, looking up, showing the springscrapers. Fig. 7 is a plan of the clip for securing the shunting-board.

The object of my improvement is to provide means for removing snow from the center of a railway-track, or from either side, and for dis charging the same on both sides or from either side of the plow. I accomplish this by means of an adjustable shunting-board pivotally arranged on a center post, and, when in position, secured at its outer end to a vertical bar.

Referring to Fig. 1, A represents the device, which I call a snow-plow. It consists of a strongly-built frame-work of wood and iron, thoroughly braced and secured, in the rear of which there is an inclosed space, which may be used as a tool-room, and is entered through the door a, and above this room there is another, having a door, m, and a window. A

lookout, is, constructed of heavy glass, is built in the top of this room, and projects above the platform or top of the framework, Fig. 2. The parts forming the plow proper are secured to this framework and form part of it, and consist of inclined sides a, formed somewhat like the mold-board of a common plow, each side terminating with a steel share, I), which extends round the end and is secured underneath, Figs. 1, 3.

For the purpose of attaching what I will call a "shunting-bozu-d, 13, whereby thcsnow may be rcmox ed and turned from either side of the track, I provide a frame consisting of a central beam, g, side braces, h, vertical side bars, D, vertical center bar, E, and a cross bar or beam, 0. The beam 9 and the braces h are bolted to the top ofthe frame-work and extend forward to the cross-bar o, to which they are secured. The vertical bar E extends through the center of the share b, and is bolted under neath, and is secured at the top to the beam 9 and the cross-bar 0. The side bars, D, are secured to the braces h, and also to the cross-bar 0, or they may form this cross-bar. The outer edge of these vertical bars is comparatively sharp, and besides supporting the frame they serve to secure the shunting-board when it is adjusted in the center or on either side. A center post, 0, having a longitudinal slot, 0, is secured at its head in the beam 9, and at its foot in a heavy beam of the frame-work. The shuntingboard B, of the form shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, is made of heavy plank and bound with iron straps p, is pivoted in the slot 0 on a bolt, d, and is attached in the center and near the top to bolts 0, which pass through the center post and act in slotsf in the shunting-board. I provide these slots for the purpose of tilting the shunting-board and adapting it to the difi fercnce of angle between the center and the inclined sides of the plow. The outer edge of the shunting-board is provided with holes, by which it is secured to either of the vertical bars by clips The clips employed to secure the shunting-board to the side bars, D, are bent, as shown in Fig. 5.

For the purpose of cleaning the snow off the rails, I attach steel spring-scrapers F, Figs. 4, 6, to a cross-beam of the framework just in front of the wheels, and the scrapers act as well in abackward as in a forward movement of the plow,and are placed substantially as shown. These spring-scrapers are arranged with reference to the rails so as to present their edges to them and in such manner as to readily yield to any immovable obstruction, whether in a backward or forward movement.

In the operation of my improved snow plow, which is attached to the engine in the ordinary way, if the snow has fallen or been drifted upon the railway, the shunting-board B is secured to the center vertical post, E, the thin edge of which cuts into the snow, .which is received by the shares, which almost touch the rails, and thrown on the inclined sides a of the plow, from which it falls on both sides of the track. If the drift .or bank is formed on either side of the track, the shunting-board is-shifted by hand and secured to the vertical bar on the side of the snow-bank, as shown in Fig. 5, by which all the snow received on the plow is shunted off the opposite side.

The man in the lookont'k observes the op.- eration of the plow, and signals any change desired to the engineer.

I have shown no arrangement for shifting and adjusting the shunting-boards other than by hand; but-I do not confine myself to this manner, as the board may be shifted and secured by simple mechanism operated by the person in the lookout.

I am aware that hinged plates and rigid scrapers have been used for scraping the rails, and also powerful springs for pressing down rails that may have been accidentally sprung upwardly, such spring being drawn along the rails. In my construction the springs are made more flexible, and are so bent as to present an edge near the rail, and not turned toward the rear. Should my springs strike the end of a'rail, they would yield while the engine moved forward.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The frame consisting of beam g, side braces, h, cross-beam 0, vertical side bars, D, and vertical center bar, E, in combination with the center post and the shunting-board, as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The shunting-board 13, whereby the snow is shunted off either side of the track, pivotally arranged in the longitudinal slot 0 in the center post, 0, and held therein by bolts e, passing through said center post, said bolts acting in horizontal slotsf in said shunting.- board,whereby the board is tilted to adapt it to the difference of angle between the center and the inclined sides a of theplow, in combination with the center post, 0, vertical side bars, D, vertical center bar, E, clips 1', and the;

frame, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with a snow-plow, a fiexible spring-scraper firmly secured to the plow,

having its lower part and edge directed toward the rail in a vertical plane, as 'set forth,whereby it will yield to a rigid obstruction in either direction, substantially as described and shown.

ANDREW E. DIETZ. [L s.]

WVitnesses:

ALrrIoNso B. SMITH, FERDINAND IMHORST. 

